Bieberer Berg

“A stadium named after a hill?” a young boy asked his father, pointing towards Bieberer Berg. “That’s right,” his father replied. “Bieberer Berg is more than just a hill; it’s the heart and soul of Offenbach football.” The Bieberer Berg stadium, nestled between Offenbach and the district of Bieber, has witnessed the highs and lows of Kickers Offenbach since its opening in 1921. The original wooden main stand held a mere 1,200 spectators. Over the years, Bieberer Berg evolved. A covered stand was added in 1952. A floodlight system, erected in 1956, was dismantled in 1959, only to be replaced by a new one in 1968. The main stand was rebuilt in 1960, and the southeast stand, later known as the Henninger Stand, was constructed in 1973. In 1991, the club faced a crisis, and the city considered selling or demolishing the stadium. Fortunately, those plans were abandoned, and Kickers Offenbach was granted building rights in 1992. A fundraising campaign in 1993 saved the main stand’s damaged roof. The stadium even hosted the Frankfurt Knights American football team in 1995. Even a briefly functional scoreboard in 1999 added a touch of modernity. Between 2011 and 2012, Bieberer Berg underwent a major transformation. The stadium was rebuilt while still hosting matches. The new stadium, a single-tier stadium in the “English style,” was designed by Bremer AG. It now boasts a capacity of 20,500, including 800 business seats and 10 boxes. Uniquely, the grandstand opposite the main stand is a dedicated standing-only area for Kickers Offenbach fans, a feature preserved from the old stadium at their request. The stadium briefly took on the name “Kommt-Gesund-Wieder-Stadion” (Get-Well-Again Stadium) during the COVID-19 pandemic. But in 2021, for its 100th anniversary, it returned to its original name, Bieberer Berg, thanks to local sponsors. Today, Bieberer Berg is more than just a stadium. It’s a testament to the enduring passion of football fans and a landmark deeply woven into Offenbach’s identity.